Birthday Goodies

Remember this amazing cookbook I raved about a while ago?

Well, it's still amazing.
I still love it very much.

And I can cook pretty decent with it!

Well, I got a new cookbook.

I got one from my brother and sister for my birthday.

I love it.

It's called The $5 Dinner Mom.

Can you say perfect?

Not only is the actual title of the cookbook perfect (can't wait to be a mom, love to cook, trying to save money...)

But the actual book is awesome itself.

Next to each ingredient for each recipe is the cost of that ingredient.

[For example: 1 egg ($.11)]

Then, at the end of each recipe is the total cost of the meal and a "frugal fact".

[For example: Apple prices are lower in the fall.]

Yes, I love this book.

And then in the introduction are tips about grocery shopping and couponing.

Yes, I'm aware I'm a nerd.

On a sadder note about my birthday...

I got $30 for DSW.

Okay, that part's not sad.

That part is actually awesome.

I knew exactly which shoes I was going to get for myself.

And you should too...

...know what I'm talking about?

Yeah.
The Katie Jo shoe.

She is my dream shoe.

The shoe that was literally {made} for me.

So, I got super excited when I got my DSW giftcard.

I was going to get my babies!

I went there on Thursday.

I had three women helping me.

What did we discover?

They no longer carry that shoe.

It's not even in the clearance section.

Yes, I did walk out of DSW with tears in my eyes.

And I'm not even afraid to admit it.

So, naturally, I went home and got online.

I looked everywhere to find these shoes.

No. Luck.

Heart. Broken.

Later that night I went over to Tom's to play video games with him and the boys.

(I've become quite the avid Halo player...well, not really. I still stink. But I'm learning!)

I arrived before the other boys, so I told Thomas all about my shoe dilemma.

And what did he say to me?
He laughed.

And then quoted scripture.

3 Nephi 19-21:

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and theives break through and steal; But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

He thought he was funny.

And what can I say?

It did make me laugh.

So now, I must find another pair of shoes to fall in love with.

But the good part about this time?
When I do go into DSW, I actually have moola this time.

So when I do find shoes that I love, I can actually buy them on the spot.

I just gotta find a new shoe that screams Katie Jo.